Actions should speak louder than words

Hi David,

You make a lot of valid points which I look forward to addressing but I am having a hard time keeping up. Again I ask that you be patient as I tackle each one. I guess I will put Adam and Eve on hold while I respond to your latest blog.

I certainly agree with you that we need more action on behalf of Christians. If every Christian stepped up and walked the walked---Oh what a world this would be. But I think you underscore the good done by Christianity. People have done harmful things in the name of Christianity but Christianity itself has had only positive effects. George Sarton, a historian of science, once said "The birth of Christianity changed forever the face of the Western World."

He was speaking about the much good Christians have done such as---The first hospitals were started under Christian influence. Blind, deaf, and mentally ill facilities were also started under Christianity. The Red Cross, Good will, and Salvation Army were founded by rock solid Christians; In fact the idea of charity arose out of Christianity. The abolition of slavery, the value and dignity of human life, the freedom of speech, the freedom and dignity of woman's rights all came from Christian values.

True Christian charity and effective Christian action come from a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ---a Christ-centered transformation of the heart.
It is the failure to distinguish between the Christian and those supposedly representing Christianity that so often gets most of the attention.

As far as sharing Jesus to people as well as lending a helping hand, what good is it to give someone food etc. but ignore the more important issues of the soul. Jesus said in the sermon on the mount "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." It is usually the downcast and poor who most recognize and accept their need of a Savior.

When I went to India, I started to understand this verse. People were hungry not just for physical food but for soul food. They realized their need for something beyond the physical satisfaction. After returning to the states so many people said "I bet you wanted to bring those children home with you". Actually, that was not what was on my mind...I look around this country and all I see is kids and adults inundated with STUFF. We are so full of materialism we don't realize how naked and poor we really are. People here have the same need as the people in India but we are too stuffed to see what we really need. Isaiah says "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live!"

Hypocrisy is believing there is a heaven and hell and then just choosing to address people's physical needs.

With all that said... I too wish actions spoke louder than words more often.

This will probably be my last blog for awhile as I am leaving for Rwanda and won't be back until June 12th.

Believer in Truth